African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (8), pp. 001-016, August, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Measurement of economic efficiency for smallholder dairy cattle in the marginal zones of Kenya

M. M. Kavoi*, Dana L. Hoag and James Pritchett

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO., USA.

Accepted 26 April, 2017

Abstract

Exotic dairy cattle have been adopted in the transitional zone IV of Kenya contrary to the opinion of experts who previously hypothesized that the "drier transitional zones" could not meet the requirements of the high performing exotic breeds. However, the economic efficiency of these breeds and the factors influencing them have not been ascertained and growers in the region are using these breeds. This study surveyed smallholder dairy farmers in the transitional zones of Machakos and Makueni Districts, and used a stochastic frontier translog cost function approach to determine their efficiency. The findings show that cost inefficiency ranges from 0.01 - 81.11, with a mean of 27.45%. Exotic dairy breeds are the most efficient in the transitional zones. Ayrshire achieved the lowest cost inefficiency (24.36%), followed by Friesians (25.08%) and Jersey (25.54%). Sahiwal (28.43%) has the lowest cost inefficiency among the indigenous breeds. The cooperative societies in the transitional zone IV were more efficient than those in the Upper Midland (UM) zone. Road infrastructure, extension and credit significantly reduce cost inefficiency. Keeping dairy records and primary level eight education are the key characteristics influencing efficiency. Policy and decision makers can use these institutional and socio-economic findings to inform education and policy aimed at improving efficiency of dairy production in the transitional zone IV in the medium potential regions.

Key words: Dairy breeds, transitional zone IV, cost inefficiency, institutional, socio-economic factors.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Economics evaluation of relative profitability in small hold dairy farms in western Kenya

Otieno D. C. Iruria*, D. M. Odhiambo and M. O. Mairura

Department of Economics and Agricultural Resource Management, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.

Accepted 11 February, 2017

Abstract

The development and implementation of farm policies requires the general understanding of the farmers’ response to the availed technology. Where farmers have similar resource endowment, generalization of policies would help improve their production levels. The farmers profit levels were used in comparing their relative efficiency in dairy farming in western province Kenya where a bilateral donor agency had come up with strategies to improve dairy farming and increase farm incomes. Using field data obtained from farmers who were beneficiary of the donor-aided project and the general dairy farmer, normalized profit function was used to generate the parameters that were used in the evaluation of the farmers’ efficiency status. The results showed that although there are constraints in the production of milk, there exists an equal economic efficiency amongst farmers in the study districts. This would imply that policies can be generalized for the entire province but the existence of unique production constraints that are specific to each district would hinder this equality can be attributed to the utilization of similar technological packages provided by the donor agency.

Key words: Efficiency, profits, dairy, smallhold, district, Kenya.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 001-007, May, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of oral administration of propylene glycol during periparturient period on blood biochemical parameters and liver triacylglycerol accumulation in postparturient dairy cows

Theera Rukkwamsuk* and Supachart Panneum

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaengsaen, Nakhonpathom 73140, Thailand.

Accepted 26 October, 2016

Abstract

Effect of propylene glycol administered during the periparturient period on blood biochemical parameters and liver triacylglycerol accumulation was studied in 35 dairy cows. Sixteen control cows were drenched with 400 ml of water per day starting from 7 days before expected calving date to 7 days after calving, while 19 treated cows were drenched with 400 ml of propylene glycol. Body condition scores and milk yield were recorded. Blood samples were collected at 2 weeks prepartum and at 2 and 4 weeks postpartum. Liver samples were collected at 2 weeks prepartum and 4 weeks postpartum. Control cows tended to lose more body condition scores than did treated cows during the first 4 weeks of lactation. Milk yield did not differ between control and treated cows. Serum nonesterified fatty acids concentrations in control cows were significantly higher than the concentrations in treated cows at 2 and 4 weeks postpartum. Serum glucose, triacylglycerol and urea nitrogen concentrations did not differ between the two groups at all sampling periods. Liver triacylglycerol concentrations were similar between 2 groups at 2 weeks prepartum. The concentrations in both groups increased at 2 weeks postpartum, and were significantly higher in control cows than in treated cows. Propylene glycol had an advantage to reduce adipose tissue lipolysis postpartum; as a consequence, reducing liver triacylglycerol accumulation.

Key words: Dairy cow, fatty liver, propylene glycol.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A field study on negative energy balance in periparturient dairy cows kept in small-holder farms: Effect on milk production and reproduction

Theera Rukkwamsuk

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhonpathom 73140, Thailand. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 6634351901 ext. 1501. Fax: 6634351405.

Accepted 21 November, 2016

Abstract

Impact of negative energy balance (NEB) and its consequences on milk production and reproduction were studied in 51 dairy cows. All cows were randomly selected from 11 small-holder farms according to their calving date during December 2006 to May 2007. Body condition score and milk yield were recorded. Blood samples were collected from all cows at 2 weeks before expected calving date and at 2 and 4 weeks after calving to determine glucose, nonesterifed fatty acids, triacylglycerol, cholesterol and urea nitrogen concentrations. Postpartum reproductive activities were also recorded. Results showed that dairy cows in this study had significantly lower serum glucose and triacylglycerol, and significantly higher serum of non-esterified fatty acids concentrations after parturition. Cows also lost their weights during postpartum period as compared with prepartum period. Results indicated that these cows suffered from NEB. The average milk yields during 16 weeks of lactation did not show the peak of yield. Pregnancy rates of these cows were 28.6, 11.1, and 12.0% for first, second, and third artificial insemination. In conclusion, these dairy cows went into a periparturient NEB period, and its consequences on suboptimal milk yields and lower conception rates were observed. Prevention of the adverse effects of NEB and its consequences would result in an increase of performance of dairy cows raised in small-holder farms.

Key words: Dairy cow, milk yield, negative energy balance, reproduction.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Day-to-day variation in yield, composition and somatic cell count of saleable milk in hand-milked zebu dairy cattle

V. Millogo¹, G. A. Ouédraogo², S. Agenäs¹* and K. Svennersten-Sjaunja¹

¹Department of Animal Nutrition and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P. O. Box 7024, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.

²Department of Animal Production, Institute of Rural Development, P. O. Box 1091, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Accepted 20 November, 2016

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the relative day-to-day variation in yield and composition of zebu cows. Ten multiparous zebu cows in day 41 ± 1.6 of lactation were used in the study. After a 14 day adaptation period, milk production was recorded daily for four consecutive weeks. Cows had access to natural pasture for 6.5 h per day and were also supplemented with hay, cottonseed cake and molasses. The cows were hand-milked and calves were used to stimulate milk ejection before and during milking. Average yield of saleable milk was 2.08 ± 0.23 l/day with a relative day-to-day variation of 18 -21%. The variation of saleable milk was 23 - 25% for fat, 12 - 14% for protein, 6% for lactose and 8% for somatic cell count. The variation in fat content was higher in strip milk (19 - 46%) than in saleable milk. The results indicated a larger variation in composition of milk from hand-milked Bos indicus Zebu than from machine-milked Bos taurus cows. The most likely reasons for the difference in variation are the suckling by the calf and that hand-milking entails larger variation in the degree of emptying machine-milking does.

Key words: Zebu, cow, milk, day-to-day variation, milk composition.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production ISSN 2375-1258 Vol. 4 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Milking performance of China yak (Bos grunniens): A preliminary report

Shikui Dong^1*, Ruijun Long², Muyi Kang³

¹Environmental School, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.

²Agro-pastoral College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730020, China.

³College Institute of Resources Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.

Accepted 16 November, 2016

Abstract

Yak milk plays a very important role in Tibetan’s daily life. Milk and milk products are the major dietary ingredients as well as family incomes of Tibetan herders in China. Yak milk yield and composition are seasonal and affected by the breed, age, parity and body condition of cow, pasture growth and quality, milking time, milking methods and environmental factors. In this paper, milk production and composition of different breeds are documented, and effects of feeding level, milking time, milking method, environmental factors on milking performance are discussed. It is found that Batang yak from Qinghai Province peaks and Jiali yak from Tibet Autonomous Region bottoms milk production, with 487. 2 and 147.6 kg fresh milk per lactation respectively. Comparatively, milk of Jiulong yak and Sibu yak has higher dry matter and fat contents, and milk of Tianzhu White yak contains more protein and lactose. Winter supplementation on dams can improve calf production and milk yield of mother yaks in the following warm season. Compared with once-a-day milking, twice-a-day milking stimulates yak female to give about one third more milk, which, however negatively affect the growth of calves. Yak produces less milk at too high temperature with strong solar radiation on clear days, but more milk within short periods of cloudy or rainy time.

Key words: China; yak, breeds, milk performance.